404 - File Not Found

We've all been there. We're surfing along the web and see a site that looks like it has just the information we've been looking for. With a little spring in our finger, we tap the left mouse button and click the link.

Then it happens.

The dreaded 404 error - file not found.

Before you start getting all teary-eyed, check out the URL (URL is geek for web address) for there may yet be a glimmer of hope!

Let's say the URL is something like:

When you click the link, you get a 404 error. Maybe the page
(computing.htm) is gone, or maybe it was just moved to a new location. So drop the last part of the URL and try again:

When you get to the directory above (assuming it has an index.htm page in it) you may see a link to your missing page.

If the above still doesn't work, try dropping the next section so you just have the main site page:

Hopefully, if the page (computing.htm) is still there, you can navigate to it from there. (Note that it was a made up page and it's not really on this site.)

This doesn't always work, but I've personally used this method to locate lots of "misplaced" pages I would not have otherwise gotten to.

Posted in: Internet Tips